4x4or 4WD(‘four-by-four’ or ‘four-wheel drive’). A four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously. The terms are usually used in Europe to describe what is referred to in North America as a sport utility vehicle or SUV.
Cabrio coachor Semi-convertible.A form of car roof, where a retractable textile cover amounts to a large sunroof. It is fundamental to various older designs, sometimes an option on modern cars.
Cabriolet.A term for a convertible car. A body style with a flexible textile folding roof or rigid retracting roof – of highly variable design detail – to allow driving in open or enclosed models.
Coupe. A 2-door, 2- or 4-seat car with a fixed roof. Its doors are often longer than those of an equivalent sedan and the rear passenger area smaller; the roof may also be low. In cases where the rear seats are very small and not intended for regular use it is called a 2+2. Originally, a coupe was required to have only one side window per side, but this consideration has not been used for many years.
Coupe utility (Ute). It is a passenger car derived light truck with coupe passenger cabin lines and an integral cargo bed.
Fastback.A design where the roof slopes at a smooth angle to the tail of the car, but the rear window does not open as a separate ‘door’.
Estate car(station wagon).
Hardtop. A style of car roof. Originally referred to a removable solid roof on a convertible; later, also a fixed-roof car whose doors have no fixed window frames, which is designed to resemble such a convertible.
Hatchback.Identified by a rear door including the back window that opensvertically to access a storage area not separated from the rest of the passenger compartment. May be 3- or 5-door and 2 to 5 seats, but generally in the USA the tailgate isn’t counted making it a 2-door and 4-door.
Hearse. A converted luxury car usually used to transport the dead. Often longer and heavier than the vehicle on which they are usually based.
Leisure activity vehicle. A small van, generally related to a supermini, with a second or even third seat row and a large, tall boot.
Liftback. A style of coupe with a hatchback; this name is generally used when the opening area is very sloped and is lifted up to open.
Limousine. A chauffeur-driven car with a normally glass-windowed division between the front and rear seats.
Minibus. Designed to carry fewer people than a full-size bus, generally up to 16 people in multiple rows for seats. Passenger access in normally via a sliding door on one side of the vehicle.
Minivan(people carrier or people mover). A boxy wagon-type of a car usually containing 3 or 4 rows of seats, with a capacity of 6 or more passengers. Often with extra luggage space also. It was primarily developed as a passenger vehicle.
Muscle car.These are sports and race cars.
MPV. Multi-purpose vehicle, a large car or small bus designed to be used on or off-road and easily convertible to facilitate loading of goods from facilitating carrying people.
Notchback. A cross between the smooth fastback and angled sedan look. It is a sedan type with a separate trunk compartment.
Pickup truck. A small, medium or large-sized truck, though smaller than a Semi tractor truck. The passenger cabin is wholly separated from the cargo bed.
· Pillarless. Completely open at the sides when the windows are down, without a central pillar.
Ragtop. Originally an open car, but with a soft top (cloth top) that can be raised or lowered. Unlike a convertible, it has no roll-up side windows.
Retractable Hardtop(Coupe Cabriolet). A type of convertible forgoing a foldable textile roof in favor of a multy-segment rigid roof retracts into the lower bodywork.
Roadster.Originally a 2-seat open car with minimal weather protection – without top or side glass – though possibly with optional hard or soft top and side curtains and without roll-up glass windows. In modern usage, the term means simply a 2-seat sports car convertible, a variation of spider.
SedanorSaloon. A car seating 4 or more with a fixed roof that is full-height up to the rear window. It can have 2 or 4 doors, fixed window frames, as opposed to the hardtop style. This is the most common body style.
Sport utility vehicle (SUV).Derivative of a pickup truck or 4-wheel-drive vehicle, but with fully-enclosed passenger cabin interior and carlike levels of interior equipment.
Spider. Similar to a roadster but with less weather protection. With its black cloth top and exposed sides for air circulation, the top resembled a spider.
Station wagon. A car with a full-height body all the way to the rear. The load-carrying space created is accessed via a rear door or doors.
T-top. Its fixed-roof design has two removable panels and retains a central narrow roof section along the front to back axis of the car.
Van. A truck-based commercial vehicle of the wagon style, whether used for passenger or commercial use. It usually has no windows at the side rear (panel van), although for passenger use, side windows are included.
Text 6.
AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
This profession is involved in the development of the appearance and to some extent the ergonomics of motor vehicles or more specifically road vehicles. This most commonly refers to automobiles but also refers to motorcycles, trucks, buses, coaches and vans. The functional design and development of a modern motor vehicle is typically done by a large team of many different disciplines included in automotive engineers. Automotive design in this context is primarily concerned with developing the visual appearance or aesthetics of the vehicle, though it is also involved in the creation of the product concept.
Automotive design is practiced by designers who usually have an art background and a degree in industrial or transportation design. The task of the design team is usually split into three main aspects:
